Transform Gov - the digital government podcast

This is not a tech story.This is a human story.Before this system existed, vulnerable children could wait weeks for access to childcare — stuck in a maze of emails, forms, and approvals.Now? Minutes.On this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Ruth Shortall (POBAL) and Ciarán Madden (Department of Children) about the system that:Cut waiting times from 3 weeks to minutesConnected multiple agencies into one seamless flowRemoved friction for frontline workers under pressureAnd quietly transformed outcomes for families at critical momentsThis is what real digital transformation looks like.Not flashy.Not theoretical.But life-changing.

What if a city already knew your child was starting school — and simply sent you a text asking if you agreed with the proposed school?That already happens in Helsinki.In this episode of Transform Gov, infrastructure expert Alice Charles from Arup explains how some cities are using data, digital twins and AI to plan transport, housing and infrastructure far more intelligently.You will hear:How Helsinki predicts school demand using dataWhy digital twins allow cities to test developments instantlyWhy surveys often get transport data wrongHow Copenhagen paid for its metro by building housing around stationsWhy Dublin sometimes loses international meetings to cities with better transportHow electricity data can reveal vacant homesThis conversation shows how data is quietly changing how cities function.Chapters00:00 Introduction 02:05 Helsinki’s predictive public services 04:00 Digital twins explained 05:30 Why visual planning wins public support 06:30 AI and planning systems 08:40 Human intelligence vs AI 11:10 Why surveys fail 12:10 Copenhagen’s real cycling data 15:30 MetroLink and global infrastructure firms 17:30 Metro funding through housing 20:40 Why Dublin loses business to Amsterdam 23:30 All-island infrastructure planning 26:00 Finding vacant homes using electricity data

AI may dominate the headlines — but the real race is happening somewhere else.Energy. Water. Data infrastructure.On this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Alice Charles, Director at Arup and former World Economic Forum infrastructure lead, about the global competition shaping the future of cities, economies and governments.Alice explains why the AI boom is triggering what some leaders are calling the largest infrastructure build-out in history.And why the foundations of AI are not software — but power grids, water systems and data centres.In this conversation:• Why the AI race between the US and China is really about infrastructure• Why AI requires massive increases in energy and water• Why Ireland’s climate gives it an unexpected advantage for data centres• Why smart city projects failed when they focused on technology instead of citizens• Why governments must move from planning to deliveryAlice also reflects on lessons from the World Economic Forum, global infrastructure investment, and the strategic decisions countries must make to compete in a rapidly changing technological landscape.If AI is the future — the question is simple:Do we have the infrastructure to support it? Digital Government Infrastructure, AI infrastructure, Data centres, Energy transition, Urban development, Smart cities, Public sector innovation

What does AI actually look like inside a local authority?In this episode of Transform Gov, Dublin City Council’s AI Lab team — Khizer Ahmed Biyabani and Richie Shakespeare — explain how they are moving beyond AI hype to deliver practical tools that improve consistency, save time and build trust.From preventing contradictory council answers to searching decades of records in seconds, they share what works, what doesn’t, and why 80% of AI success comes down to data.Why ListenHow AI prevents conflicting public-sector responsesTurning 1990s PDFs into instant search resultsTraining 500+ staff and shifting sentiment from fear to confidenceWhy data readiness matters more than the AI itselfTimeline00:00 — What the AI Lab is and why it exists 03:30 — Why a sandbox approach matters 11:30 — Training 500+ staff and changing AI sentiment 21:27 — “Ctrl+F on steroids”: AI for council questions 22:04 — Searching records back to the 1990s 24:29 — The truth: data preparation is 80% of the work 27:00 — Building control use cases and operational impact 32:40 — Scaling AI safely in local governmentAI in government, digital transformation, local government innovation, generative AI, public sector technology, Ireland eGovernment Awards, smart cities, data governance

Quantum computing is often described as “next-generation” technology — but according to Equal1 CEO Jason Lynch, it’s much closer, more practical, and more relevant to government than most people realise.In this episode of Transform Gov, Jason explains quantum computing in plain English, why it follows AI rather than replaces it, and how it could transform public services — from climate modelling and flooding prediction to healthcare, logistics and national infrastructure planning.We also explore why waiting until quantum “arrives” may already be too late for CIOs, and what public-sector leaders should be doing now to prepare.Topic timeline00:01 – What quantum computing actually is (without the jargon)03:10 – Why AI is hitting limits: energy, cost and sustainability04:30 – Healthcare, drugs and why we still don’t know how paracetamol works06:20 – Optimisation problems governments can’t solve today08:00 – Why Equal1’s data-centre approach changes everything11:40 – Why ESA became Equal1’s first customer15:40 – What CIOs should be planning for now17:50 – Quantum, security and post-quantum cryptography20:40 – Digital sovereignty and Europe’s quantum future25:00 – What citizens may notice in five years’ timequantum computing explained, quantum computing government, public sector technology, digital government podcast, future of computing, AI and quantum, government innovationwhat is quantum computing, how quantum computing affects government, quantum vs AI, when will quantum computing be used, quantum computing public services

What if improving health didn’t start with another campaign telling people what to do?In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Stephen McPeake, founder of Civic Dollars, about a practical, community-led way councils and health bodies are encouraging healthier behaviour — and actually seeing results.Stephen explains why incentives often work better than awareness campaigns, why people push back when they’re told what to do, and how councils and health bodies are using Civic Dollars to improve wellbeing, support local businesses, and strengthen communities.A smart listen for anyone working in public health, local government, or digital transformation.Topics00:00 – 01:00 Why public services struggle to change behaviour01:00 – 03:00 A simple idea: rewarding people for time outdoors03:00 – 05:30 How health activity turns into community impact05:30 – 09:00 Using incentives instead of prescriptions09:00 – 12:10 Why public health campaigns don’t work12:10 – 15:00 Why place matters more than apps15:00 – 19:00 How innovation gets stuck in pilot mode19:00 – 27:00 What councils get, what it costs, and what’s next

AI can already create near-perfect replicas of passports, utility bills and other identity documents — good enough to bypass many existing checks.In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Dr Hitesh Tewari, Professor at Trinity College Dublin and researcher at the ADAPT Centre, about what this means for public services that rely on digital identity, from welfare and healthcare to licensing and payments.They explore:Why traditional KYC approaches are no longer sufficientHow fraud becomes dangerous when it becomes scalableHow zero-knowledge proof can allow verification without over-sharing dataHow blockchain can support trust, not speculationLessons from real-world projects in energy, voting and healthcare dataA practical, risk-focused conversation for those responsible for digital public services.Key topics 01:25 – AI-generated identity documents and KYC risk06:30 – Why scalable fraud changes everything10:45 – What blockchain is (and is not) for government13:50 – Zero-knowledge proof explained simply19:40 – Tackling greenwashing with better energy attribution22:15 – Healthcare data, silos and trust25:50 – What’s coming next: opportunities and risksDigital identity, AI fraud, KYC, public sector technology, digital government, blockchain, zero-knowledge proof, cybersecurity, trust in government, ADAPT Centre, Trinity College Dublin

Digital services only work if everyone can use them.In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with Donal Fitzpatrick and Shivaali Scully from the National Disability Authority about accessibility, universal design and the fast-emerging role of AI in public services.They explore if AI can remove barriers for people with disabilities, where serious risks around bias and privacy remain, and why involving users early in design is the single most important factor in getting digital services right.The conversation ranges from real-world examples of AI supporting accessibility, to the impact of the European Accessibility Act, and why Ireland is emerging as a global leader in universal design.This is a must-listen for anyone designing, commissioning or delivering digital services in the public or private sector.Timeline / Topics00:00 – Why accessibility is central to digital government03:00 – AI and accessibility: opportunity versus risk06:30 – Why user voices must shape design from day one09:30 – Privacy, bias and the limits of AI17:00 – European Accessibility Act explained23:00 – Ireland’s leadership in universal design34:00 – The Universal Design Grand Challenge and future talentAccessibility, Universal Design, AI in Government, Digital Public Services, Inclusion, European Accessibility Act, Public Sector Innovation, Transform Gov

This is a frank conversation about pace, legislation, risk culture, and delivery at scale — and why digital reform will stall unless governments change how decisions are made, not just what they build.Part 2 of Transform Gov, Dr Tony Shannon, Head of Digital Services at Ireland’s Office of the Government CIO. This interview goes beyond strategy and confronts the real constraints holding back public-sector transformation.Tony explains why:the machinery of government is not yet fit for the digital agelegislation itself must become “digital-ready”life-event based services require cross-government ownershipIreland has a unique opportunity to lead between EU regulation and US innovationThis episode will resonate with anyone responsible for delivery, governance, funding, architecture, or reform in the public sector.Part 2 of 2Presented by Maeve KneafseyTransform Gov – part of the Ireland eGovernment Awards, in partnership with AccentureKey moments01:45 – Why 2030 is the end of the digital decade, not the start04:30 – Life events, building blocks and shared ownership07:00 – Digital public infrastructure explained11:25 – Ireland’s position between EU regulation and US innovation17:00 – Why the machinery of government is not yet fit for the digital age18:30 – The case for digital-ready legislationKey subjects: public sector digital transformation, government CIO, digital government Ireland, life events strategy, digital public infrastructure, govtech, public service reform, digital legislation, OGCIO, Transform Gov podcast